Week 5

Question 1

Puberty

Answer 1

is a brain–neuroendocrine process occurring in early adolescence that provides stimulation, via hormones, for the rapid physical changes that occur during this developmental period.

Question 2

Androgens

Answer 2

the main class of male sex hormones
Testosterone is an androgen that plays an important role in male pubertal development.

Question 3

Estrogens

Answer 3

the main class of female sex hormones
Estradiol is an estrogen that plays an important role in female pubertal development.

Question 4

Hypothalamus

Answer 4

a structure in the higher portion of the brain that helps regulate a number of internal body functions, including eating, drinking, and sex.

Secretes gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
Linked to pubertal timing.

Question 5

Pituitary gland

Answer 5

the endocrine gland that controls growth and regulates other glands.

Secretes follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)
LH regulates estrogen secretion and ovum development in females and testosterone production in males.

Question 6

gonadotropin-releasing hormone =

Answer 6

GnRH

Question 7

hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal system =

Answer 7

HPG axis

Question 8

Heightened Sensitivity:

Answer 8

Adolescents experience a greater neural reaction in the striatum to rewards (money, social feedback) compared to children and adults.

Question 9

Increased Sensation-Seeking:

Answer 9

Due to lower baseline dopamine levels, adolescents often feel more bored, pushing them to seek novelty and high-stimulation activities.

Question 10

Vulnerability to Addiction:

Answer 10

The surge in dopamine, combined with developing brain circuitry (see next slide), makes adolescence a high-risk period for substance abuse/addiction.

Question 11

Adaptive Purpose:

Answer 11

Despite the risks, heightened dopamine response appears to be crucial for social development and learning to navigate new environments: all key tasks for healthy adolescent growth. Engaging in positive, high-stimulation activities—such as sports, music, or creative arts—can satisfy the increased demand for dopamine in a healthy, socially-productive way.

Question 12

Tension between Cognition and Emotion

Answer 12

The prefrontal cortex continues to develop through emerging adulthood, but the limbic system matures much earlier and is almost completely developed by early adolescence.

Adolescents often struggle with increased emotional responses that outpace the development of their reasoning abilities. That is, changes in the limbic system (emotional center) occur before the prefrontal cortex (rational, planning center) fully matures, leading to an imbalance where emotions and rewards overpower long-term planning.

Emerging adults demonstrate significantly improved emotional regulation compared to adolescents.

A major research question is which comes first—biological changes in the brain or experiences that stimulate these changes?